Post by Eru on Jun 26, 2004 10:31:33 GMT -5
Primrose felt a surge of worry at this. Where was one to find a horse in Bywater? She thought hard. What hobbits would keep horses? She had known since she was since she was small that only one hobbit had ever been tall enough to ride a horse, and that was Bullroarer Took. But he was long since dead, and while his descendents may keep horses now for farming, Tuckborough was over half a day to the south.
But this brought her another thought. She did not have to travel to Tookland to find a farming family; there was one waiting patiently in the hallway.
"I shall return," she said to the Elvish ladies, then quickly slipped out the door. There she found the Cotton boys.
"How fares the traveller?" Jolly inquired.
"Not well, I fear." Then turning to Tom, she asked, "Tom, does your father have any horses?"
"Yes," Tom replied, "three. He keeps them for plowing. Why do you ask?"
"One of the other strangers says she knows one who may heal her, but the journey is many days by horse."
Tom looked suspicious. "Primrose, remember what I said to you. We do not know if these strangers are to be trusted. How do we know they are not roaming horse-thieves out of the north?"
Primrose could not believe her ears. "Tom, we must help McDLT! Please, ask your father if he will not loan one of his horses for a few days. Please?"
Tom glared at her skeptically. For a moment, Primrose thought he would refuse, but then he said, "Ask the traveller to come with me. Nick, you run ahead and tell Father what passes. We will be with you shortly."
Primrose looked gratefully at Tom. She thought she detected something of a smile on his face. She returned to the room.
"My lady," she said, doing Rodwen a courtesy, "my friend asks you to follow him to the home of his father, a farmer. They live not far from here. He may be able to give you one of his horses for your journey."
But this brought her another thought. She did not have to travel to Tookland to find a farming family; there was one waiting patiently in the hallway.
"I shall return," she said to the Elvish ladies, then quickly slipped out the door. There she found the Cotton boys.
"How fares the traveller?" Jolly inquired.
"Not well, I fear." Then turning to Tom, she asked, "Tom, does your father have any horses?"
"Yes," Tom replied, "three. He keeps them for plowing. Why do you ask?"
"One of the other strangers says she knows one who may heal her, but the journey is many days by horse."
Tom looked suspicious. "Primrose, remember what I said to you. We do not know if these strangers are to be trusted. How do we know they are not roaming horse-thieves out of the north?"
Primrose could not believe her ears. "Tom, we must help McDLT! Please, ask your father if he will not loan one of his horses for a few days. Please?"
Tom glared at her skeptically. For a moment, Primrose thought he would refuse, but then he said, "Ask the traveller to come with me. Nick, you run ahead and tell Father what passes. We will be with you shortly."
Primrose looked gratefully at Tom. She thought she detected something of a smile on his face. She returned to the room.
"My lady," she said, doing Rodwen a courtesy, "my friend asks you to follow him to the home of his father, a farmer. They live not far from here. He may be able to give you one of his horses for your journey."